MANT 414

Advanced Research Methodology

2011 Course Overview
INTRODUCTION
This full-year (36 point) course is a key foundation for post-graduate
research-based degrees in Management.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course you should be able to:

Follow the argument of academic papers published in

peer-reviewed journals written for an academic audience,
and critically appreciate the research methods used to
support these arguments;
Identify the different epistemological assumptions that
underpin any piece of research, and appreciate the value
and limitation of these in various applications;
Appreciate the range of methodologies available for
conducting research into management and organisations;
understand the contexts for which each method is
appropriate; and its strengths and weaknesses in each
case; and
Design and write a research proposal that (i) clearly
identifies a research question; (ii) explains the relevance of
the question to an academic literature; (iii) selects
appropriate methods to collect and analyse data that will
answer the research question; and (iv) suggests the likely
contribution of the research to the literature.

Teaching Staff
Fiona Edgar *
Sara Walton
Malcolm Cone
Andr Everett

Joint Course Co-ordinator/

Research Process/Design and Quantitative Analysis
Joint Course Co-ordinator/
Research Process/Design and Qualitative Analysis
Philosophy of Science
Survey Design and Administration

Contact Details:
Fiona Edgar
Sara Walton
Malcolm Cone
Andr Everett

CO814
CO820
CO910
CO810

479 8091
479 5108
479 8130
479 7371

fiona.edgar@otago.ac.nz
sara.walton@otago.ac.nz
malcolm.cone@otago.ac.nz
andre.everett@otago.ac.nz

Office Hours
See individual Lecturer involved at the time of teaching. In general it
will be by appointment with the Lecturer only.
Overall design of course
This course involves a series of modules aimed at introducing students
to academic research, as well as various research methodologies. One
of the main objectives is to develop students understanding of the
research process so that they are able to apply this to the design of a
research project of their own, and the writing of a research proposal
setting out their project.
The course will conclude with students giving seminar-presentations on
their project proposals.
Format of each module varies, using lecture classes, tutorials and
computer labs as appropriate.
In lieu of tutorials throughout the year we strongly encourage and
expect your attendance at Departmental Research Seminars. These
are held on Thursdays from 12 to 1pm. Presenters include staff, postgraduate students and visiting academics. You will be advised via
email of these seminars and their venue.

Disclaimer
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information
contained in this document is accurate, the information is subject to
change. Changes will be notified in class and/or tutorials. Students
are encouraged to check notice boards, etc for any changes. It is
your responsibility to be informed.
Course Material
Suggested Texts
Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2007). Business research methods.2nd Ed. Oxford
University Press: Oxford.
Dawidowicz, P. (2010). Literature Reviews Made Easy: A Quick Guide
to Success. Information Age Publishing Inc: Charlotte, NC. (copies
available for use from Leanne Skryba)
Booth, C., Colomb, G., & Williams, J. (2008). The Craft of Research. 3rd
Edition. The University of Chicago Press: London.

Readings will also be disseminated by individual Lecturers prior to each

teaching module.
The total assessment for this course is now made up as follows:
Essay
15 marks
Survey

10 marks

Quantitative Analysis

10 marks

Outline and Annotated Bib

15 marks

Proposal

25 marks

Exam

25 marks

Philosophy of Science, Survey Design, and Quantitative Data Analysis

Assessment will be advised during lectures.

OUTLINE AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (15 marks)

Development of a brief proposal outline which sees the research
domain outlined, an overview of relevant literature, and development
of possible/potential research question(s) (800 words). Students are to
include in this outline an annotated bibliography. This annotated
bibliography involves sourcing a range of relevant articles; these are
then referenced and you write a brief paragraph of around 50-80
words which describes the article, its key points, and how it might be
useful to your proposal (for example, method, concept definition). This
bibliography will include 15 (minimum) publications of which at least 10
must be sourced from high quality academic journals (1200 words). This
makes the word total word count for this assessment 2000. The
assessment will be worth 15 marks, and these marks will reflect both the
content and quality of the proposal outline and its annotated
bibliography. Due Date: 20 May 2011
RESEARCH PROPOSAL (25 marks)
This is a significant piece of assessed work in the course. The proposal
you write for MANT 414 will:

identify a research question

show its relevance to an academic literature on
management and organisations
propose a programme of research that will answer the
question

The written proposal will be assessed on (i) the clarity of the research
question posed; (ii) how well it explains the relevance of the question
to an academic literature; (iii) the relevance to the research question
of the methods chosen to collect and analyse data; and (iv) the
credibility of the proposal's claimed contribution to the literature.
This literature should include:
Literature review;
o Relevance of literature included;
o Breadth and scope of generated literature;
o Formulation of argument of your reading of the
literature in the area;
Proposed methodology; and
Value of the research questions developed
Students are required to present their research proposal to the MANT
414 class. This presentation should demonstrate the student has
developed an appropriate research question/problem, revised

relevant literature and developed logical and coherent arguments in

support of the research question/problem. Finally the student will need
show they can develop an appropriate research design suitable for this
research.
More information will be provided in lectures, particularly during the
lecture on Research Proposal preparation.
Due Date: 7 October, 12 noon, Hand in Reception, 8th Floor,
Department of Management.

MANT 414 Research Proposal Feedback

Student:

___________________________________

Topic:

___________________________________

Front Matter
Is the title page typed in proper format?
Is the Table of Contents properly organised?
Introduction
Does the introductory statement move you, like a "funnel," from a
general to a specific view of the problem of the study?
Is the problem stated clearly and objectively?
Is the problem stated in the proper format (relationship between
variables or difference between groups)?
Does the purpose clearly state the intention of the study?
Is the literature review a true "synthesis" of researched material, rather
than a review, or summary, or report?
Are most of the materials drawn from primary, rather than secondary,
sources?
Is there an obvious organisational scheme to the literature review:
historical, topical, or related to the hypotheses?
Does the literature review give you the impression that the writer is
thoroughly familiar with what is known in the field?
Does the significance of the study section answer the question "So
what?" (Does it explain why this particular study is important to the
field? Does it include referenced support for the study?)

The Method
Is the study's population clearly defined?
Is there a clear description of the instrument(s) that will be used to
gather data?
Are the limitations to the study identified and discussed?
Is the research design (if needed) clearly explained?
Are the procedures for collecting data clearly stated step-by-step?
Is there evidence that the researcher has considered potential
problems and provided contingency plans?
General
Does the paper generally exhibit good writing skills: spelling, grammar,
syntax, clarity of thought?
Does the paper exhibit good organisational skills: flow of thought,
effective transitions from section to section, the impression that the
paper is "all of one piece"?
General Feedback Comments:

18

SEMESTER 1 CLASSES WEDNESDAYS, 12.00 TO 1.50 PM

Week
Modules
Lecturer
beginning
28 February
Course Introduction
Fiona Edgar
What is research? The research
process; and interpreting
research
7 March
Library Skills
Fiona Edgar/Thelma
Fisher
14 March
Research paradigms an
Malcolm Cone
introduction
21 March
Philosophy of Research
Malcolm Cone
28 March
Philosophy of Research
Malcolm Cone
4 April
Philosophy of Research
Malcolm Cone
Malcolm
11 April
Philosophy of Research A
Cone/Graham Elkin
Case Study Approach
18 April
Talking to researchers*
25 April
EASTER AND MID SEMESTER
BREAK
2 May
Quantitative Analysis using SPSS Fiona Edgar

19

9 May

Quantitative Analysis using SPSS

Fiona Edgar

20

16 May

Quantitative Analysis using SPSS

Fiona Edgar

21

23 May

Case Study Research

Colin CampbellHunt

22

30 May
No Class
* Please note this class time will be used as an opportunity to students
to talk to researchers (faculty) within the Department of Management
about their research. This date is a tentative one and it is likely this class
will come earlier in the programme.

Week
9

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

Tutorials

Computer
Lab
Computer
Lab
Computer
Lab

Week
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
39

SEMESTER 2 CLASSES THURSDAYS, 10.00 TO 11.50AM

Week
Modules
Lecturer
beginning
11 July
Research Proposal Preparation Sara Walton
18 July
Qualitative Research
Sara Walton
Interviews
25 July
Qualitative Research - Analysis Sara Walton
1 August
Qualitative Research
Sara Walton
8 August
Survey Design and
Andre Everett
Administration
15 August
Survey Design and
Andre Everett
Administration
22 August
Survey Design and
Andre Everett
Administration
29 August
MID-SEMESTER BREAK
5 September
Survey Design and
Andre Everett
Administration
12 September
Survey Design and
Andre Everett
Administration
Post-Graduate
19 September
Guest Presentation:
Perspectives on Research
Students and
Sara Walton
26 September
Finalising/reviewing
Sara Walton
development of the research
proposal
3 October
NO CLASS PROPOSAL
PREPARATION
10 October
Proposal Presentations
Sara Walton
Exam Preparation

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